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How Much Does a Thailand Trip Cost?

How Much Does a Thailand Trip Cost?

By Chris QuanUpdated Sep. 5, 2023

When considering a Thailand trip, you may want to know how much it would cost? Is it expensive? Here is a breakdown of how much it costs for flights, hotels, transportation, sightseeing, food, and activities.

Is Thailand Expensive?

The Grand Palace,Bangkok The Grand Palace

Thailand is not an expensive destination. It is a cost-effective country to travel around. For a lot of things, Thailand is very affordable.

Moreover, Thailand can suit all kinds of budgets, from economical to luxury.

You can get full meal for 1–2 USD at a roadside stall, stay in a clean guest house for 10 USD or less, and take a bus or the subway for less than 1 USD.

For better quality, the price goes up, but it remains very good value compared to Western countries.

  • For a medium budget, touring Thailand typically costs around US$150–200 per day per person (including 4-star hotels, airfares within Thailand, attractions, guides, and transfers).
  • For a higher budget of US$200–250 per day per person, more comfort can be enjoyed (including 5-star hotels, airfares within Thailand, attractions, guides, and transfers).
  • For a family trip (2 adults plus 2-3 children) for 2 weeks in Thailand or in Southeast Asia, it normally costs US$10000-15000 per family excluding international flights from/to America or Europe.

Check out some private Thailand tours and private Southeast tours to get a general idea of the cost.

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Thailand Major City Trip Costs

Compared with the cities, Thailand's islands cost a little more in general. For example, Koh Samui is known for luxury resorts and high-quality service. However, Phuket is suitable for all budgets, and Krabi is more affordable.

Bangkok is a bit more expensive as the capital city, but you can still find cheap hotels and restaurants in Khao San Road, known as a backpacker's paradise. Some northern and central cities are cheaper, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Ayutthaya. But the quality of services and facilities are correspondingly lower on average.

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The Cost of International Flights to Thailand

Flying to Thailand from the U.S. now requires at least one layover, most of which are in Singapore, Seoul, Doha, Paris, London, Munich, and other European/Asian flight hubs.

The cost of airfares varies a lot depending on when you fly and which airline you use, from around 700 to 1,300 USD for a one-way economy trip.

A transfer in an Asian country, like Singapore, is cheaper. August, September, and October are Thailand's low season because of the rainy season. Air tickets drop by around 40% during this period.

Europe has direct flights to Bangkok - from London, Paris, Zurich... A one-way air ticket is around 600 to 1,000 GBP flying economy.

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The Cost of Accommodation in Thailand

Peace Resort Samui Peace Resort Samui

Prices of hotels vary widely from city to city and from season to season.

The busiest (and most expensive) period is from November to January/February. To find good accommodation during this period, we recommend you plan and book well in advance (at least 6 months before departure).

The low season runs from July to October. Prices are lower, and there are fewer tourists. >>>How to Choose Hotels in Thailand

Here is a table to show you the approximate cost for a standard 2-person room around Thailand for reference only (prices fluctuate quickly due to various uncertainties related to COVID-19):

Location Star Rating Low Season High Season
Bangkok 3-star US$30–50 US$55–70
4-star US$60–80 US$80–100
5-star US$100–150 US$120–170
Phuket 3-star US$25–50 US$45–60
4-star US$55–70 US$65–85
5-star US$90–130 US$100–145
Koh Samui 3-star US$50–60 US$75–85
4-star US$80–110 US$110–135
5-star US$130–200 US$170–250
Chiang Mai 3-star US$20–30 US$30–40
4-star US$60–80 US$70–90
5-star US$90–110 US$100–120

Hotels are included in our itineraries and we can generally secure favorable prices. We recommend suitable hotels based on your preferred location, room specification (e.g. no-smoking room, family room for Parents and 2 -3 kids), and other requirements. Feel free to contact us.

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The Cost of Eating and Drinking in Thailand

Thai food

Thailand has a variety of delicacies and is not expensive. Many unique Thai foods, like pad Thai (Thai fried noodles) and som tam (spicy papaya salad), can be bought from roadside stalls for 1–2 USD.

A decent restaurant costs about 10–15 USD per person. Luxury restaurants cost 50–60 USD per person and upwards.

Fresh fruit juice can be found easily on the roadside for 0.50–1.00 USD. As for alcohol, the best deals are in convenience stores, like 7-11s. A bottle of beer costs about $2. Drinks in bars and restaurants are more expensive, costing 3–4 USD a bottle. Drinks at luxury restaurants start at 15 USD.

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The Cost of Transportation in Thailand

Flying is the fastest and most popular way to travel between cities. Airfares range from 30 to 100 USD for economy seats.

There are many airlines in Thailand with different prices and services. See our article: The 8 Best Domestic Airlines in Thailand for Tourists.

Ferry or speedboat is the main way to travel between most islands, such as Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands. See How to Get from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands.

Traveling between cities also can be done for 8 to 72 USD on trains, or for 6 to 20 USD on buses.

Thailand's public transportation within cities is very affordable. Taking Bangkok as an example, for 0.50–1.00 USD you can take a bus or the MRT/BTS. Taxis charge 1 USD minimum and make sure they use their meters to avoid price disagreements. Tuk-tuks charge ½–1 USD for a 10-minute walking distance - 800 m (½ a mile).

Transportation on the islands is higher in cost than in the cities. Renting a motorbike is a popular way to enjoy the scenery around the islands.

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The Cost of Attractions/Activities in Thailand

Wat Chedi Luang Wat Chedi Luang

Tickets for most tourist spots in Thailand range from 1 to 15 USD, i.e. they're very affordable. The most famous Thailand attraction, the Grand Palace in Bangkok, costs 500 THB (14 USD).

There are also many temples and museums that are free of charge, like Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai.

Some beach activities or entertainments like snorkeling, night shows, etc. cost about 15–50 USD a time.

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Thailand Trip Costs - from 5 Days to 1 Month

The cost of a trip to Thailand basically consists of:

  • Transportation - taking up 40%
  • Activities - taking up 20%
  • Accommodation - taking up 15 %
  • Food and drink - taking up 13 %
  • The rest - taking up 12 %

This is only a rough guide. We can give you specific prices based on an itinerary made for you. Contact us for your no-obligations quote.

The prices below are per person, based on a great-quality 2-person experience (4/5-star hotels, private transfers, guide service, etc.). The ranges cover seasonal variation.

For a Thailand trip of 8 days, the trip cost range is 1,500–2,500 USD.

For a Thailand trip of 10–14 days, the trip cost ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 USD.

For a 16–19-day trip, the cost ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 USD. If you are planning a 3-week to 1-month trip, it may cost over 8,000 USD.

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Tips for Saving Money

1. Traveling during shoulder/low season (May to October). The trip cost may drop by 20%–40%.

2. Choose budget airlines when traveling around Thailand, such as Lion Air. It may save 20%–30%.

3. Use public transportation. Share a songtaew/taxi with other travelers so you can pay a cheaper price.

Contact Us for Bookings/Inquiries

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